14. Nervous System II Flashcards
What does the CNS consist of?
Brain
Spinal cord
What is the brain protected by?
Cranium
Cranial meninges
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Blood brain barrier (BBB)
What is the spinal cord protected by?
Vertebral column
Meninges
What are meninges?
Layers of connective tissue that form protective membranes
They surround and encase the brain and spinal cord within the skull and spinal column
What are the three layers of meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord?
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
What is the dura mater?
“Tough mother”
Tough outer layer
Has 2 layers in the brain
What do the two layers of dura mater in the brain do?
Create venous sinuses
What do venous sinuses do?
AKA Bridging veins
Allow blood to drain out of the brain into the jugular veins
What is the arachnoid mater made up of?
Collagen and elastic fibres
What is the subdural space between the dura mater and arachnoid mater filled with?
Interstitial fluid
What is the pia mater?
Innermost layer of the meninges
Thin, transparent and highly vascular
In direct contact with the brain
Follows contours of the brain
What does the pia mater contain?
Blood vessels that supply the spinal cord
What is the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater filled with?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What is a subdural haematoma?
Venous bleed in space below the dura mater
Develops slowly
Can happen in Alzheimers disease due to brain shrinkage
What is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Arterial bleed in the space below the arachnoid mater
Rapid development
From Berry aneurism
Feels like a thunderclap headache
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
Clear, colourless* liquid that protects the brain and spinal cord from mechanical and immunological injury
Nourishes the brain and spinal cord
*contains no blood cells
What does CSF consist of?
Filtered blood
Water with ions and glucose
Why is CSF colourless?
Blood cells are too large to filter through
Where can you find CSF?
Subarachnoid space
Ventricles* in brain
Central canal of spinal cord
Fourth ventricle (back of brain) used in cranio-sacral therapy
Where is CSF produced ?
Ependymal cells
How much CSF is produced a day?
500ml
How much CSF can be found in the brain?
150ml
What happens to excess CSF that can’t fill around the brain?
Gradually absorbed back into blood
What are the functions of CSF?
Supports/protects the brain and spinal cord
Shock absorber
Keeps them moist
Circulates nutrients and waste
Maintains uniform pressure around brain
Maintains optimal chemical environment for nerve signalling
Where does blood flow to the brain from?
Vertebral arteries (x2)
Carotid arteries (x2)
What percentage of the body’s oxygen and glucose does the brain use at rest?
20%
What does the blood brain barrier do?
Protects brain from toxins, harmful substances and bacteria
How does the BBB protect the brain from toxins, harmful substances and bacteria?
By maintaining tightness of capillaries
By maintaining junctions between cells
What maintains the BBB?
Astrocytes that wrap around the capillaries
What substances can transport across the BBB?
- Lipid soluble substances: alcohol,
anaesthetics - Glucose (active transport)
- Gases
- Ions
What substances can’t transport across the BBB easily?
Proteins
Some drugs
What are the four areas of the brain?
Brainstem
Diencephalon
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
What are the parts of the brainstem?
Midbrain
Pons*
Medulla oblongata
‘Bridge’
What are the parts of the diencephalon*?
interbrain
Thalamus*
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
*80%, core of the brain
Where can you find the brainstem?
Top of the spinal cord
Continuation of the spinal cord
What does the brainstem pass through?
Foramen magnum (large hole)
Which centres are located in the medulla oblongata?
Respiratory centre
Cardiac centre
What does the medulla oblongata control?
Breathing
Cardiac output
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Vomiting reflex
Coughing reflex
Hiccupping reflex
Which cranial nerves are located in the medulla oblongata?
9-12
Which tract is located in the medulla oblongata?
Corticospinal tract (motor)
What does the pons control?
Breathing
Which cranial nerves are located in the pons?
5-8
Which tract does the pons relay?
Motor
What does the midbrain contain?
Substantia nigra
What is the substantia nigra?
Large, darkly-pigmentated area
What does the substantia nigra contain ?
Dopamine releasing neurons that control subconcious muscle activities
What does the midbrain do?
Controls eye reflexes and tracking
Controls head and neck movements
Auditory tracts
Transfers motor tracts
Which cranial nerves are located in the midbrain?
III - Oculomotor
IV - Trochlear
What is the thalamus?
Major part of the diencephelon
Relay centre of the brain
What percentage of the diencephalon is made up of the thalamus?
80%
What does the thalamus do?
Relays sensory information to the cerebrum
Integrates sensory and motor information
What does the epithalamus do?
Connects limbic system to other parts of the brain
Which gland is located in the epithalamus?
Pineal gland
Which hormone does the pineal gland secrete?
Melatonin
What does the hypothalamus do?
Regulates hormones and homeostasis Controls body temperature Regulates emotional/behavioural patterns Regulates appetite/satiety Regulates circadian rhythm
What type of information does the hypothalamus receive?
Sensory
Which nervous system does the hypothalamus control?
Autonomic nervous system
Where is the cerebellum located?
Inferior and posterior aspect of the cranium
How many neurons can be found in the cerebellum?
50 billion*
Majority are interneurons
*Half the total number found in the brain
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
- Balance/posture (propreoception)
- Co-ordinates smooth sequences of movement to ‘skilled’ levels
- Error correction during ongoing movement (learning an instrument, learning to walk)
- Cognition, thought and language processing
What can damage the cerebellum?
Chronic alcohol abuse
Coeliac’s disease
Thiamine (B1) deficiency (malnourished)
What are the symptoms of a cerebellar disease?
Ataxia* - lack of muscle co-ordination
Stumbling
Unsteadiness
Slurred speech
Intention tremor (tremor when doing a movement e.g. hand shaking when putting key in lock)
*notice wide-legged stance
What are the areas of the cerebrum called?
Left and right hemispheres
What does the cerebrum contain?
- Outer cerebral cortex with multiple foldings
- Deeper cerebral region
What is the outer cerebral cortex also known as?
Grey matter
What is the deeper cerebral region also known as?
White matter
What is grey matter made up of?
Cell bodies
Dendrites
Unmyelinated axons
What is white matter made up of?
Myelinated axons
How are the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum connected?
By the corpus callosum
What does the corpus callosum do?
Co-ordinates movements between sides e.g. walking